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7 2 G R A P H I C S P R O • O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M B U S I N E S S S T R A T E G I E S KNOW THY BUSINESS SELF 5 PERSONALITY TRAITS TO IMPLEMENT AND CULTIVATE R I S I N G T I D E O F B U S I N E S S | A A R O N M O N T G O M E R Y I believe that everyone who has the guts to start their own business is capable of as much success as they desire. Being capable is one thing and achieving another, so you must be willing to cultivate the traits and characteristics needed for success. Finding the right mindset, doing the work, and own- ing who you are tend to not be natural and are not typically things we were taught in school. I have learned that to develop these mindsets and characteristics, the best method is to ask yourself questions until you can get to the root of the answer. Once you can start answering these questions about yourself, you need to start acting to set a new mindset and stay deter- mined to achieve your desired result. To get you started, I want to share five personality traits or characteristics you must implement and cultivate. In each of these characteristics, I also have some questions to ask your- self as a starting point but don't stop there, go deeper. Albert Einstein once said, "If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on it, I would use the first 55 minutes determin- ing the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper ques- tion, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes." Spend the time finding good questions to ask yourself, and then allow yourself the time to contemplate and answer sincerely. MAKE YOUR CHALLENGES YOUR VICTORIES All the stress, hardships, or challenges you have faced, were just opportunities to grow. It is like working out. You have to strain and tear the muscles for them to grow and then become stronger. Many times, what is holding us back is just hiding in plain sight. Here are some questions to ask yourself to find the ways to identify what might be holding you back so you can continue to turn your challenges into victories. 1.) Why am I currently not at the level of success that I want? 2.) How have I been holding myself back? 3.) What beliefs have I created due to past experiences that might not be true? 4.) How has a challenge or adversity possibly given me an advantage? You can put this into action by writing down how you have grown due to adversity and how you can use that growth as a superpower. Further, describe your future as that superhero, and share your story with someone you trust. To help people get beyond their limiting beliefs, we host monthly workshops to help you unlock your potential. CLARIFY YOUR REASONS Once we can start pursuing things that live in align- ment with our why or purpose, your world will open as you never knew before. Before I started Our Success Group, I had plenty of good things going for me, but I never felt like I was successful. Discovering my mission has made all the differ- ence in finally feeling successful and aligned with my purpose. Here are some questions to find your purpose and clarify your reasons for doing what you were meant to do. 1.) What do I love to do so much that I lose all track of time? 2.) What do others tell me I am good at? 3.) How would you like your obituary to read? 4.) What difference do you want to make deep down in your soul? You can put this into action by writing your obituary as you would live to be remembered. Everything in life and business is more about the journey and learning and letting go of attachment to the results. e end of our life is the true "completion," so this action gives you perspective. DETECT YOUR FUEL SOURCE We need some fuel to push us through the roadblocks we are inevitably going to encounter. For example, omas Edison was motivated because he was told he would never amount to anything as a boy and young man. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, which fueled him to become one of the fierce competitors on the basketball court, which led him to being the greatest basketball player of all time. Here is a quote from him: "Some want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." Here are some questions to ask yourself to help detect your fuel so you can break through future roadblocks. 1.) What can you turn into fuel from your past? 2.) What passions get you excited to chase? 3.) What failures do you never want to experience again? To put this into action, create a list of three goals you want to achieve in the next 12 months, and then write out the fuel you will use to achieve those goals. Remember to write down why they are important to you. DEVELOP STRONG FEELINGS We must stop with the characteristic that was pushed on us when we were kids — being a people pleaser. Most peo- ple think that being a people pleaser is somehow being nice, 1 2 3 4